March 12, 2007 – Established OEM enters quad market

INDIANAPOLIS — A powersports and automobile manufacturer and engine builder from Taiwan, which has or had long-term ties with Honda and Hyundai, is entering the U.S. market with two ATVs this year.
The announcement was made at Dealer Expo by Jonathan Arn, the owner of Carter Brothers, the longtime U.S. kart builder that will be the exclusive distributor of the new ATVs.
The quads, a 300cc machine that will be available in April and a 600cc that will be ready in the fourth quarter, will be sold under the name of SYM, the brand for SanYang Industry Co., a 2,400-employee company that has subsidiaries in China, Vietnam and Indonesia.
“SYM is a billion dollar company,” Arn said in an interview with Powersports Business. “Their annual sales are well more than $1 billion annually. They build cars for Hyundai and also OEM some products for BRP in 250-300cc categories.
“As far as research and development, they have really unlimited capacity and people as knowledge in this market.”
The two new quads, the QuadLander 300S and the QuadRaider 600, will both feature SYM engines.
The QuadRaider 600 will have a liquid-cooled, 560cc single cylinder four-stroke, four-valve engine. The quad will have a dual-range drive with a reverse gear as well as an electric starter. Other features will include:

independent double A-arm front suspension,

independent rear suspension,

steel front and rear cargo racks, and

dismountable rear passenger backrest.
“I would put their 300, 600cc ATVs head-to-head with any Japanese machine on the market,” Arn said, noting the quads are EPA, DOT and CARB approved. “It’s just as good.”
The MSRP for the QuadLander 300S is expected to be around $3,500. The cost for the 600 is still being determined.
The relationship between SYM and Carter, which was finalized last spring, is entering its first full year.
“The main reason that SYM and Carter partnered with each other is that Carter has a dealer network of well more than 500-plus dealers where we can immediately start selling their products,” Arn said. “What made it attractive to Carter is really the engine, R&D and the technology SYM has available that we can also incorporate into our products as well. So it should be a very good relationship.”
The partnership also allows Carter to sell SYM’s scooters, which range in engine size from 50cc-250cc. SYM showed off several new scooters at Dealer Expo.
“I think that’s really the key to longevity in this market is diversification,” Arn said. “So if you put the SYM product line together with the Carter product line you really have one hell of a product group.”

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